Creepers and head rests therefor



Nov. 25, 1958 P. T. MYERS 2,861,279

CREEPERS AND HEAD RESTS THEREFOR Filed July s, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v Fig. 4

Pau/ Theron Myers INVENTOR.

Nov. 25, 1958 P. T. MYERS 2,861,279

CREEPERS AND HEAD RESTS THEREFOR Filed July s, 1956 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 2

o o 1 o l l O O Y O Paul Theron Myers INVEN TOR.

BY My-Mu United S ates Patent 2,861,279 CREEPERS AND HEAD RESTS THEREFOR Paul Theron Myers, Newton, 1 11., assignor of fifty percent to David A. 'Iilrnipseed, Newton, Ill.

Application July 3, 1956, Serial No. 595,721 1 Claim. ci. -327 companying drawing forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a view in perspective of my invention in the preferred embodiment thereof with the head rest lowered;

Figure 2 is an enlarged view in bottom plan of the same;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged view in vertical longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 44 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section taken on the same line on Figure 1 as Figure 3 but with the head rest raised;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view in perspective of a swivel nut forming part of the adjusting means of the preferred embodiment;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical longitudinal section illustrating a modified embodiment of the invention; and,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary view in vertical transverse section taken on the line 88 of Figure 7.

Referring by numerals to the drawings, in the preferred embodiment of my invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, my improved creeper comprises a rectangular bed 1 including a top panel 3 supported at its sides on longitudinal side bars 5 of a bed frame 7 including front and rear end cross bars 9, 11 and intermediate cross bars 13 underlying and connecting the side bars 5 together.

Adjacent the ends of the bed frame 7 front and rear pairs of conventional dolly rollers 14 of the oblique axis caster type are suitably mounted on the side bars 5 to support the bed frame 7.

An oblong rectangular head rest 15 which extends endwise across the bed 1 over the top panel 3 and rear end 17 thereof comprises a bottom rectangular plate 19 and a resilient top cushion 20 of rubber or the like thereon. The plate 19 is secured at its ends by screws 21 or the like between the rear ends of a pair of arms 23 extending forwardly and longitudinally of the bed 1 at opposite sides thereof and pivoted, as at 25, at front ends thereof between the side bars 5 for vertical swinging whereby the head rest 15 is vertically swingably adjustable into raised and lowered positions. Longitudinal slots 27 open at the rear end 17 of the top panel 3 and in which said arms 23 play provide for vertical swinging of said arms upwardly above said bed 1.

The means for adjusting the head rest 15 comprises a swingable.

ice

shaft 29 extending longitudinally of the bed 1 below the head rest 15 and having a front end 31 threaded through a swivelled nut 33 pivotally mounted rearwardly of and below the pivots 25 of the head rest for vertical swinging about a horizontal axis so that the shaft 29 is vertically The nut 33 is pivotally mounted by means of side trunnions 35 journaled in a pair of vertical ears 37 depending from the panel 3 and secured to said panel 3 by lateral lugs 39 and screws 41. V

The shaft 29 lies in the longitudinal center of the bed 1, extends over the rear cross bar 11 parallel with the arms 23, is journaled through a right angled bottom lug 43 on the plate 19 and provided with a terminal operating knob 45 in the rear of the plate 19. The lug 43 is fixed by any suitable means to the plate 19. A longitudinal central slot 47 in the bed panel 3 provides for vertical swinging of the shaft above said panel 3. A pair of collars 49 pinned, as at 51, on the shaft 29 on opposite sides of the lug 43 prevents longitudinal movement of the shaft 29 relative to the lug 43 and plate 19 on head rest 15.

As will now be seen, screw feed of the shaft 29 in opposite directions by manipulation of the knob 45 will cause the collars 47 to exert force in opposite directions against the lug 43 to swing the head rest 15 vertically about the pivots 25 to raise or lower the head rest 15 into the raised position shown in Figure 5 or into a lowered position such as shown in Figure 3. The shaft 29 will engage the rear bar 11 to limit lowering of the head rest 15.

In the modified embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 the arrangement is as in the preferred embodiment with the following exceptions. The shaft 53 is pivoted at its front end for vertical swinging by a cross pin 55 in ears 57, corresponding to the ears 37. At its rear end the shaft 53 is extended through an apertured lug 59 slidable thereon and depending from and suitably fixed to the plate 61 of the head rest 63. A helical tension spring 65 on the shaft 53 is interposed betwen the lug 59 and a flange 67 on said shaft adjacent the cross pin 35. A set bolt 69 in the lug 59 provides for locking the lug to the shaft 53.

In the modified embodiment above described, the head rest 63 is adjusted downwardly by hand with the set bolt 69 loosened. This causes the shaft 53 to be swung downwardly on the pin 55 and the lug 69 to slide forward- 1y on the shaft 53 to compress the spring 65 after which the set bolt 59 is tightened to lock the lug 59 to the shaft 53 to lock the head rest 63 in lowered position. To adjust the head rest 63 upwardly, the set bolt 69 is loosened to release the compressed spring 65 whereupon said spring expands and slides the lug 59 rearwardly on said shaft 53. Because the axis of swinging movement of the shaft 53 is rearwardly of and below the pivotal axis of swinging movement of the head rest 63 rearward sliding of the lug 59 causes upward adjustment of the head rest 63 which results in upward swinging of said shaft. As will be seen,

, the set bolt 69 provides for locking the head rest 63 in different adjusted positions.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explana tion is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A creeper comprising a rectangular bed having front and rear ends and including side bars and a panel on said bars, a head rest extending crosswise of said rear end, a pair of support arms for said head rest extending forwardlytherefromafiopposite sides of said bed and having front ends pivoted between said side bars beneath said panel for vertical swinging whereby saidhad rest is vertically swingably adjustable, and means for adjusting said head rest comprising a shaft beneath said headrest extending forwardly 'therefrbm beneath said p'aneLzimeans pivbtall-y:

mounting said shaft adjacent-a front end thereoi for vertical swinginggancl rneans connecting said shaft -adjacent its other end-tosaid--= hadrest,': said panel being slotted for swingingmf said-arms and shaft therethrough, r the;- second named-means comprising: 21 swivelled. nut

through which' said shaft is threadedior screw feed relative thereto, the lastnamedmeans eornprisinga lug on said head rest through which 'said shaftis journaled;

and collars on said -shaft bn opposite sidesof=said lug for engaging-the: sametes adjn'st thm head rest in opposite directions -in responseto screw feed of-said-shaft'-in"oppo-' site directions, said nut having trunnions on opposite sides thereof andsaid'ban'el having a pair'of depending lugs therein in which said trunnions are journaled with the nut between said pair of depending lugs for swivelling said nut.

References Cited in-the file of this patent UNITED STATES .PATENTS 221,5 87 

